Part IV Employees (Singapore) – Expedo

The Employment Act is Singapore’s main employment law. It provides for the basic terms and working conditions for all employees through core provisions and Part IV provisions that provide additional protection. Only some employees are covered by Part IV.

Part IV of the Employment Act, which provides for rest days, hours of work and other conditions of service, only applies to:

A workman (doing manual labour) earning a monthly basic salary of not more than $4,500.
An employee who is not a workman, but who is covered by the Employment Act and earns a monthly basic salary of not more than $2,600.

Part IV of the Act does not cover all managers or executives.

Use the below table to help you identify whether an employee is a “workman” or a “manager or executive”.

Category	Comments	Type of contract
Who is a “workman”?	Generally, “workmen” are employees whose work involves mainly manual labour. This includes someone who falls under any of these categories: Does manual work (including artisans and apprentices, but not seafarers or domestic workers). Operates or maintains commercial vehicles with passengers. Supervises manual workers, but also performs manual work more than half their working time. Has a job specified in the First Schedule of the Employment Act, namely: Cleaner Construction worker Labourer Machine operator and assembler Metal and machinery worker Train, bus, lorry and van driver Train and bus inspector Workman employed at piece rates at an employer’s premises	Does the “workman” earn above $4,500 per month (excluding overtime payments, bonus payments, annual wage supplements, productivity incentive payments and any allowance): Yes Use Non-Part IV Employees employment contract No Use Part IV Employees employment contract
Who is a manager or executive?	In general, managers and executives are employees with executive and supervisory functions. Their duties and authority may include one or all of the following: Making decisions on issues such as recruitment, discipline, termination of employment, performance assessment and reward. Formulating strategies and policies of the enterprise. Managing and running the business. They also include professionals with tertiary education and specialised knowledge or skills whose employment terms are like those of managers or executives. For example: Advocates and solicitors Chartered accountants Practising doctors and dentists	Use the Non-Part IV Employees employment contracts regardless of earnings
What about all other employees?	Basically, all employees who are not “workmen” and who are not managers, executives or tertiary educated professionals. This generally means all rank-and file white-collar employee (e.g. clerk and receptionist).	Does the employee earn above $2,600 per month (excluding overtime payments, bonus payments, annual wage supplements, productivity incentive payments and any allowance): Yes Use Non-Part IV Employees employment contract No Use Part IV Employees employment contract

For guidance, please consult the Ministry of Manpower website here.

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